Tribune News Network
Doha
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) announced the grand prize winners of its two latest Innovation Award competitions during the closing ceremony on Thursday.
WISH CEO Sultana Afdhal presented the awards for the WISH Innovation Spark Competition to SOSO Care and the WISH Innovation Booster Competition to Ellen Medical Devices for its affordable dialysis machine.
Afdhal said, "This year represents the first time we have hosted innovation awards at WISH. The awards recognise and support achievement in healthcare innovation, but, more importantly, they shine a light on underlying issues in the innovation cycle, ensuring healthcare startups have access to funding and the mentorship they need to succeed.”
SOSO Care is a micro mobile health insurance startup from Nigeria using an innovative approach to bring health insurance to millions of Nigerians by enabling insurance payment in exchange for recycling waste. Ellen Medical Devices’ affordable dialysis machine is the world’s first low-cost dialysis system. The Spark Award and Booster Award winners also received $5,000 and $10,000 respectively as part of the prize.
On receiving the award, Nonso Opurum, co-founder of SOSO Care, thanked the WISH community for confidence in their work. "I am grateful for your commitment to universal health,” he said.
Professor John Knight, managing director of Ellen Medical Devices, said: "Here at The George Institute for Global Health, our mission is to save millions of lives; in this case, by providing affordable dialysis treatment to kidney patients all around the world. This award takes us one step closer to realising that dream.”
The competitions received close to 500 applications from 43 countries, setting a record number for WISH, with 30 finalists being selected for exceptionally high calibre innovations. These innovators were given a platform at the WISH 2020 virtual Innovation Hub to showcase their work to global health experts and policymakers during the summit.
All selected innovators will receive WISH media support for up to 12 months and invitations to other summits and events as additional benefits. As WISH innovation programme alumni ambassadors, they will also receive mentorship and championship for up to a year.
Doha
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) announced the grand prize winners of its two latest Innovation Award competitions during the closing ceremony on Thursday.
WISH CEO Sultana Afdhal presented the awards for the WISH Innovation Spark Competition to SOSO Care and the WISH Innovation Booster Competition to Ellen Medical Devices for its affordable dialysis machine.
Afdhal said, "This year represents the first time we have hosted innovation awards at WISH. The awards recognise and support achievement in healthcare innovation, but, more importantly, they shine a light on underlying issues in the innovation cycle, ensuring healthcare startups have access to funding and the mentorship they need to succeed.”
SOSO Care is a micro mobile health insurance startup from Nigeria using an innovative approach to bring health insurance to millions of Nigerians by enabling insurance payment in exchange for recycling waste. Ellen Medical Devices’ affordable dialysis machine is the world’s first low-cost dialysis system. The Spark Award and Booster Award winners also received $5,000 and $10,000 respectively as part of the prize.
On receiving the award, Nonso Opurum, co-founder of SOSO Care, thanked the WISH community for confidence in their work. "I am grateful for your commitment to universal health,” he said.
Professor John Knight, managing director of Ellen Medical Devices, said: "Here at The George Institute for Global Health, our mission is to save millions of lives; in this case, by providing affordable dialysis treatment to kidney patients all around the world. This award takes us one step closer to realising that dream.”
The competitions received close to 500 applications from 43 countries, setting a record number for WISH, with 30 finalists being selected for exceptionally high calibre innovations. These innovators were given a platform at the WISH 2020 virtual Innovation Hub to showcase their work to global health experts and policymakers during the summit.
All selected innovators will receive WISH media support for up to 12 months and invitations to other summits and events as additional benefits. As WISH innovation programme alumni ambassadors, they will also receive mentorship and championship for up to a year.